Imams refuse to pray for non-Muslim terror victims

Chief Imam of Great Mosque of Brussels suggests Muslims could show sympathy to non-Muslim victims, but can't pray for them.

Ari Soffer, 29/03/16 18:26

Muslims praying (illustrative)

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Controversy has erupted in Belgium after it emerged that some Belgian mosques were refusing to join public prayers for non-Muslim victims of the recent terror attacks in the capital Brussels.

A report by the United Arab Emirates TV station Al-Ghad Al-Arabi explained that the Council of Belgian Imams rejected the prayer initiative, saying that praying for the souls of non-Muslims runs counter to Islamic law (Sharia).

During the report, which aired March 26 and was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Sheikh Abdelhadi Sewif, Chief Imam of the Great Mosque of Brussels, suggested Muslims might be able to still take part in shows of sympathy for non-Muslim victims, but only if they avoided using the word "prayer" and instead used terms such as "solidarity with the families of the victims."

"Some say that it is prohibited to pray for the souls of non-Muslims," he acknowledged, but added: "Since this was a general event, in which Muslims as well as non-Muslims (were hurt), we address all of the victims and wish them peace, mercy and health."